Machine for measuring, folding, and invoicing cloth.



l No. 797,010. n PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

' v W. H. MORGAN.

MACHINE POR MEVASURING, FOLDING, AND INVOIGING CLOTH.

APPLIOATION FILED 1320.7, 1904.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. |fsf/,010. PATENTBD AUG. 15,1005.

w. H. MORGAN.

MACHINE POR MEASURING, FOLDING, AND INVOIGING` CLOTH.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.7, 1004.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mnnzw. a. GRAHAM co. Puao'umocmrwsns. wxsnmcmn, 110.

No. 797,010. PATENTED AUG. 15,190.5.. W.,H. MORGAN.

MACHINE FOR MEASURING, FOLDING. AND INVOICING CLOTH. APPLIoATIoN FILED 1330.7, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3. v

'- No. 797,010. K PATENTED AUG. 15, 1005.

. l W. H. MORGAN'. MACHINE P011' MHASURING, FOLDING, AND 111110101110 CLOTH.

- 'APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4:.

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PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905.l

W.*H. MORGAN.

M-AOHINB; FOR MEASORING, FOLDING, AND INVOIOINO OLOTH.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 7, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MORGAN, OFNORTH BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MEASURING, FOLDING, AND INVOlCING CLOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905;

Application iiled December 7, 1904. Serial No. 235,891.

AT0 a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MORGAN, a resident of North Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful4 Improvement in Machines for Measuring and Folding Cloth; and l do yhereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to machines for measuring and folding cloth or other fabrics.

My object is to provide a machine for this purpose which is simple of construction and which can be operated by hand so as to be usable in retail stores or in department stores, where remnants are frequently measured, in` order to check up the clerks.

In most retail dry-goods stores the fabrics are nowadays measured entirely by handthat is, either by means of a yardstick or by stretching the fabric between markers on the counter. Some fabrics are folded so that each fold is a yard long and measuring is done by merely counting the folds. In all cases, however, the measuring is rather slow, and especially at stock-taking time and when preparing remnants it requires considerable time to measure and invoice thedifferent rolls or bolts of dry goods.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine which is capable of being operated by hand, and therefore adapted for retail use, and by means of which dry goods or other fabrics can be quickly and accurately measured and simultaneously folded.

The invention also comprises certain mechanical features or details, such as an arrangement whereby the indicator or register is brought back to zero by the mere act of removingthe measured portion of cloth from the machine, also means for folding either on a roll or upon a board, so as to make a bolt of the goods, also convenient means for cutting the-goods at any desired point, as well -as other features of construction, as will hereinafter be described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof with the back of the casing broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4L is a horizontal section on the line/1L 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is aperspective View of the. gage for cutting off the fabric. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the locking-plate. Fig. 8 is a rear View showing the machine adapted for Winding the goods on a board; and Fig. 9 is an end view of the same, the end portion of the casing being removed.

My machine comprises in its general organization a pair of measuring or cloth-feeding rolls with means for rotating the same, a register or indicator driven from said rolls, and

mechanism for automatically folding or winding the measured portion of the fabric. The mechanism is mounted in a suitable casing of the general outline shown in Figs. l and 5, having a bottom 1, end portions 2, a back 3, a rounded top 4, an upper front 'portion 5, a horizontal ledge 6, and a lower front portion 7. The casingin general outline resembles somewhat the covering or casing for a type-writing machine; but it is proportionately longer. In this casing are mounted the cloth-feeding or measuring rolls 8 and 9, which may be smooth, grooved, roughened, or covered with rubber or other material and between which the cloth is pinched and fed forward. These rolls will be driven by any suitable means, and for retail or department stores a crank 10 or other convenient means will be attached to the journal of one of the rolls-as, for instance, to the journal of the lower roll. The upper roll will be driven in unison with the lower roll by any suitable means. such as the connecting-gears 12, attached to the journals of said rolls. The upper roll will have a slight up-and-down movement, which can be conveniently secured by making the holes 14 for its journals slightly elongated in a vertical direction, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 1, so as to permit said roll to move slightly up and down to accommodate itself to Various thicknesses of fabric. To insure the feeding forward of the fabric without slipping, the upper roll is yieldingly held against the lower roll, and this also may be done by various means, that shown in the drawings comprising a pair of levers 15, pivoted to the casing at 16 and carrying at one end antifriction devices, such as the rollers 17,.which bear against portions of the top roll. site ends of the levers have connected thereto a spring 18, connected to an adjustable screw or bolt 19. The spring gives the yielding action necessary, and by means of the bolt the degree of pressure may be varied to suit various thicknesses or characters of fabric.

The end of the cloth or other fabric will be inserted between the rolls 8 and 9, and then by turning the crank 10 the rolls will feed the fabric forward through the same, the

The oppotravel of the fabric being in exact unison with the surface speed of the rolls. A suitable register or indicating device is used for measuring the peripheral speed of the rolls. This is accomplished by connecting the journal of the lower roll to a suitable indicating' or registering mechanism, (shown at 20.) This register may be of various types, and, as

shown, it comprises two dials 21 and 22, one within the other. The dial 21 is graduated `to inches, and over the same moves a suitable pointer or hand 23, connected to a shaft 24.

vThe dial 22 is graduated to yards, and moving over the same is a hand 26, connected to yan arbor 27, which is driven from the shaft 24 by means of a gear 28 andv pinion 29. The

" number of teeth on the pinion and gear will be in the ratio of one to thirty-six. The shaft 24 is driven from a beveled gear 30, meshing with a similar pinion 31 on a shaft 32, mounted in the upperpart of the casing. The shaft 32 is connected to the lower roll by means of a sprocket chain 34, connecting suitable sprocketwheels on the two shafts. The sprocket-gearing and the gears 30 and 31 are so proportioned that the indicator-hand 23 is driven at the desired rate of speed over thedial 21, so as to travel over a single graduation on said dial for each inch of linear movement of the periphery .of the feeding-rolls. The indicator-'hand 26 will of course be driven at one thirty-sixth of the speed and vwill thus indicate yards, whereas the hand 23 take the looped form shown in Fig. 3 and pass around and in contact with the drum 35. The lower or outer reaches of said chains hang down in the form of loops, as shown at 39, and their weight keeps the upper reaches in contactwith the drum. The end of the fabric after it'passes through the feeding-rolls will fall down upon the upper reaches of the sprocket-chains and will be carried by the same underneath and around the drum 35 and in that manner will be wrapped or rolled onto the drum. The accumulation of material on the drum will of course increase its size. This will force the upper reach 38 of the sprocketchains outward and downwardly, and this will decrease the slackness in the outer reaches of the said chains. The sprocket wheels and chains are preferable for this wrapping action because of the positive action and weight thereof; but, if desired, any other suitable endless means may bel employed. The speed of the sprocket-chains 38 is slightly faster than the feed of the rolls 8 and 9. This keeps the goods tightand secures a better and smoother fold on the drum 35. To facilitate the removal of the goods from the drum, the latter is several inches shorter than the width of the fabric, so that the latter will extend beyond the end of the drum, thus enabling the operator to easily grasp the goods and draw the same off the drum. Guides 40 are provided in order to keep the sprocket-chains from riding up on and off the sprocket-wheels, these guides being on that side of the chains toward which the fabric is drawn in removing it from the drum.

After the desired quantity of cloth has been fed through the rolls 8 and 9 and wound around the drum 35 it is cut ofi' in any suitable way. To facilitate this cutting' off, I provide a suitable gage-bar 42, this being either a grooved bar or preferably two rods or small tubes so secured together as to form a groove on one side or between the same. This gagebar is mounted at its ends on suitable hangers 43, fastened in the ends of the casing, and on Vone end there is provided a handle 44, by means of which the gage-bar can be swung from its position below the lower roll to a position practically above the same, as shown 1n Fig.

1n this position it lies underneath the web of the fabric. y A knife will then be taken and drawn across the fabric, said knife being guided by its point entering into the groove of the gage-bar 42. By this means a neat cut squarely across the fabric can be made. After the desired number of yards of fabric have been measured and cut off and automatically folded on the drum it will be removed from the drum, and in doing so the register is automatically returned to Zero so as to be in l condition for measuring the next purchase of goods. The measured fabric is removed from the machine by stripping it off the drum. To permit this, one end portion of the casing is formed as a door 46, in which the journal of the drum is mounted. This door will be provided with a suitable handle and locking means 47 and when closed will support the drum 35, but when open will permit the fold of fabric to be stripped olf the same. The indicator will be returned to Zero automatically by means of a counterweight 48, connected to a cord or other flexible connector 49, passing over a guide-sheave 50 and connected to an arm 51 on the arbor 27. When the indicator is actuated during the measuring of the cloth, the arm 51 will turn with the arbor 27 and will elevate the weight 48. To permit the weight to return the indicator-hands to zero, I make the 4shaft 24 in two sections and connect the same by means of clutch members 52, which when engaged will cause the indicator-hands to rotate with the shaft 32 and when disengaged will permit the weight48 to draw the indicatorl sition shown in Fig. 2.

'will be controlled by means of the door 46.

To this end the lever is provided with a projection 55, having an inclined face 56, against which bears an antifriction-roll 57 on an arm 58, hinged in the top of the casing. This arm at its lower end is bent outwardly, as at 59, and contacts with the door 46. A spring 60 holds the arm normally in contact with the door.

'When vthe door is closed, this arm is forced inwardly, thus causing the roll 57 to ride along the inclined face 56, thus pushing the lever 53 outwardly against the tension of the spring' 54 vand bringing the clutch mem bers into engagement. As soon as the door is opened the spring 60 will draw the arm 58 outwardly, thus permitting the spring 54 to -move the outer end of the lever 53 inwardly and disengaging the clutch members.

Under some conditionsit may be undesirable to have the indicator-hands return to zero whenever the fabric is removed from the drum 35. I therefore provide means for locking the lever 3, so that when the door 46 is opened said lever cannot move to disengage the clutch members. To this end a locking-lever 63 is pivoted to the rear wall of the casing in such position that it will engage the arm 58. The outer end of this lever projects through aslot 64 in the front wall 5 of the casing. Adjacent to this slot is a notched plate 65, having a shoulder in such position that when the locking-lever is moved over it cangbe engaged with the shoulder, thus preventing the lever from moving outwardly and holding the arm 58 so that its spring 60 cannot pull it outwardly when the door is opened. When this lockinglever 63 is engaged with the shoulder of the locking-plate 65, the indicator will keep on totaling the successive measurements of goods instead of returning to zero after each sale.

I provide a yielding stop against which the weight 48 will bring an arm on the indicator and one that will center the hands at zero. To this end the arbor 27 has connected thereto an arm 66, and in the path of said arm are la pair of pawls 67, which are hinged at 68 to the lower ends of swinging arms 69. The

. pawls 67 are so pivoted to these arms 69 that they can swing upwardly in order to permit the arm 66 to pass underneath the same, but cannot swing downwardly lower than the po- The swinging arms 69 are yieldingly drawn toward each other by means of the spring 70, the tension of which can be varied by adjusting-screws 71. These screws also serve to adjust the position of the pawls 67 so as to set the indicator exactly at zero.

Connected to one of these arms is anl extension 72, which is connected, by means of a link 73, to the piston-rod 74 of the dash-pot 75, said dash-pot being used to steady the movements of said spring' and prevent the click which would otherwise be produced. l/Vhen the indicator stands at zero, the parts just described will be in the position indicated in Fig. 2. When the indicator is operated, the arm 66\will travel in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus pushing the righthand one of the pawls 67 outwardly against the spring 70 and carrying the parts to the d otted-line position shown in said figure. When the arm 66 passes slightly `beyond this dotted position, its end will pass beyond the end of the pawl 67, and the spring 70 will at once swing said linger back to its normal position. If the indicator is operated to such an extent that the arm 66 makes an entire revolution, its hand will sweep underneath the lefthand pawl 67 and raise the same until it passes beyond the end thereof, and then the foregoing operation will be repeated. When the clutch 52 is disengaged, the weight 48 will bring the indicator back to Zero. If the arm 66 has performed less than a half-revolution', the weight will draw it backwardly; but if said arm has performed more than a halfrevolution the weight 48 will cause it to continue in the same direction until it reaches zero. In either case said arm will sweep underneath one of the pawls 67, lift the same, and strike against theend of the other pawl. The spring 70 will allow the pawl to yield, thus lessening the shock and gradually bringing the arm and indicator-shaft to a stop. The tension of the spring will then draw the arm back and the parts will vibrate slightly back and forth until they come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with the indicator-hands exactly at zero.

To prevent the register becoming set on the dead-center of the weight 48 and arm 51, I-

provide a leaf-spring 76, secured to the casing, and hav-ing its end projecting into the path of the arm 51. This spring is located opposite the direction of pull of the weight 48 and will act on the arm 51 for a short arc at what would otherwise be the dead-center. If the clutch 52 is disengaged at the exact dead-center,'this spring will serve to start the arm backwardlyuntil it comes under the action of the weight 48.

Many styles of dry goods are put up in the form of bolts-that is, rolled on thin narrow boards. In taking stock or invoicing' it is desirable to reroll such fabrics on boards. In that case the drum 35 cannot be employed; but in lieu I employ the winding mechanism shown in Figs., 8 and 9. On the shaft 32 -I provide a suitable pulley 77, and in line therewith is acorresponding pulley 78, mounted on a stub-shaft set in the end of the casing. These two pulleys are connected by means of an elastic orY yielding belt, which may comprise an ordinary leather or rope belt 79, having the ends connected by a spring 80. The pulley 78 is provided with suitable clips 81 for holding the board 82 and with a point 83 for centering' the same. The opposite end of the board will be held by means of a pointed rod or bar 84, which is normally held against the board by means of a helical spring 85,

-having one end connected to the outer end of the bar 84 and the other to the casing. In many cases the boards 82 are quite short. To accommodate such, the bar 84 will be fitted in a standard 86, and in the casing there will be provided a suitable grooved bar 87, provided with holes 88, to either one of which the standard 86 may be connected by means of a suitable pin. In this manner various lengths of winding-boards 82 may be accommodated. As the fabric accumulates on the board 82 it is obvious that its peripheral speed will increase at each revolution. As a consequence the belt 79 will have to slip or yield. The elastic portion 8O thereof will allow for this.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoing description and drawings. The bolt of cloth 90 or other fabric will be suitably placed in front of the machine and the end thereof inserted between the rolls 8 and 9. Then by turning on the handle 10 the fabric will be fed through the rolls, led to the winding mechanism, and folded thereupon. The speed of the fabric corresponds to the peripheral speed of the rolls, and the latter is measured by means of the indicator described. As soon as the desired length of fabric has been measured off the further rotation of the rolls will be stopped. The gage-bar 42 will then be swung to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the fabric cut off in the manner described. The door 46 will then be opened, thus permitting the clutch members 52 to be disengaged and permitting the weight 48 to return the indicator to Zero. The fabric will then be removed from the drum 35, or the board 82 when used will then be removed from the casing, and the cloth is practically folded, or when taking stock it will be allowed to remain on the board 82. Should it be desired to total up successive sales, the locking-lever 63 will be moved to such position as to engage the locking-plate 65, in which event the indicator will not be returned to zero after each sale. If, through mistake, the operator has measured out more than the required number of yards, he will merely turn the rolls 8 and 9 backward until the register shows the desired amount without in any manner affecting the measurement. In so doing the weight of the lower loops 39 of the sprocket-chains will keep the upper loops in normal position against the fabric on the drum 35.

The machine described is simple and easy of operation and is adapted for use in all retail and department stores. The measurement of the cloth is accurate and rapid and the measured portion is at the same time folded. Mistakes in measurement cannot occur, and it is also possible to cut the fabric od much more neatly and squarely than when done by means of shears.

What I claim is# l. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, a register actuated therefrom, a support for the measured fabric including a member movable in order to permit the removal of the measured fabric, and means actuated auto'- matically when said member is moved and serving to return the register to zero.

2. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, an indicator actuated therefrom, automatically-movable means for returning the indicator to zero, means for folding the fabric comprising a member movable to permit the removal of the fabric, and means operable by said movable member and controlling said automatic means.

3. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, an arm on said shaft, a yielding stop in the path of said arm and in position to hold the arm at Zero, and automatic means for returning said register to zero.

4. In a machine for measuring fabric, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, an arm on said shaft, and a pair of yielding pawls adapted to engage said arm and hold the same at the zero-point of theregister.

5. In a machine for measuring fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, an arm on said shaft, a pair of swinging stop members between whichthe arm is held with the register in Zero position, and means for returning said register to Zero.

6. In a machine for measuring fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, an arm on said shaft, a pair of swinging stop members between which the arm is adapted to be held with the register in zero position, a spring connected to said arms and holding them yieldingly in position, and means for automatically returning the register to Zero.

7. In a machine for measuring fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, an arm on said shaft, a pair of swinging members between which said arm is `adapted to be held with the register in zero position, a spring connected to said members and arranged to hold them yieldingly in Z'ero position, a dash-pot connected to said swinging members, and automatic means for returning the register to zero.

8. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, a weight arranged to return the register to zero, an arm on said register-shaft, and a yielding stop member in the path of said arm and arranged -to hold the same in Zero position.

9. In a machine for measuring fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, a weight arranged to return the register to Zero, an arm on said register-shaft, and a pair of yielding swinging members between which said arm is adapted to be held.

lO. In a machine for measuring fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register actuated therefrom and including a rotatable shaft, a weight arranged to return the register to its Zero position, a pair of swinging stop members between which said arm is adapted to be held in the Zero position of said register, a spring connected to said members, and a dash-pot connected to said members for steadying the movements thereof.

11. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register, connections between the register and said rolls, said connections including a clutch, and automatic operable means actuated when the folded fabric is removed from the machine and arranged to operate said clutch to permit the return of the indicator to zero.

12. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a register, connections between the same and the rolls, said connections including a clutch, a movable portion of the casing to permit the removal of the measured fabric, clutch-actuating means operable from said movable casing portion, and means for returning the indicator to zero. l

13. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-rolls, a door in the machine-casing to permit the removal of the measured fabric, a register, connections between the same and the rolls, said connections including aclutch, means arranged when the door is opened to disconnect said clutch, and mechanism for returning the indicator to zero.

14. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of a suitable casing, driven feeding-rolls mounted therein, a register, connections between theregister and the rolls, said connections including a clutch, a door in the casing, a spring-pressed arm bear.- ing against the door, and a clutch-lever controlled by said arm.

15. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of a casing, driven feeding-rolls mounted therein, a register, connections between the same and the rolls includ- .ing a clutch, a spring-pressed lever for disconnecting said clutch, a door in the casing and arranged to control said clutch-lever, and a locking-lever arranged to lock the clutch-lever in position with the clutch members engaged.

16. In a machine for measuring and .folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, a register actuated therefrom, and a pivotally-mounted vbar arranged to be swunginto position over the lower roll near the bite 'of the rolls and to bear against the under face of the fabric and provided with a groove for guiding a cutting implement. l

17. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, a register actuated therefrom, and a pivotally-mounted bar arranged to be swung into positionnear the bite of the rolls and to bear against the fabric and arranged to guide a cutting implement.

18. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrollers, a register actuated therefrom, a winding device comprising a roll or drum, and driven eXtensible endless flexible members having loops in which said drum rests.

19. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feedingrolls, a register actuated therefrom, and a winding device comprisinga drum, a pair of driven endless flexible members having one of the reaches looped and bearing against the drum, and having the other reaches slack.

20. In a machine for measuring and folding fabrics, the combination of driven feeding-- rolls, a register actuated therefrom, a winding device comprising a roll or drum, and driven extensible endless fiexible members having loops in which said drum rests, said bands or chains being driven at a greater speed than the rolls.

In testimony'whereof I, the said WILLIAM H. MORGAN, have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. MORGAN. vWitnesses:

G. H. RANKIN,

WINTER. 

